“ROSE MARIE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 240, 30 December 1927, Page 14

“ROSE MARIE”

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Breath-bereft patrons who watched J “Rose Marie” last evening went away i full of its praises as the most beauti- ; ful show that has been seen in His Majesty’s Theatre for many moons. ; There are scenes which, with their | attendant airs from the pen of that master of melodies, Rudolf Prime, are marvels of sheer loveliness. In this respect a very high standard is attained. There is no setting which is not worthy of the world-famous musi- | cal play and “Rose Marie” is worthy j of the best of settings. : Of course “Rose Marie’s” reputation was made and had echoed down Queen Street years before the well-known | airs are here to be heard in their con- | text. But here now, in the flesh, so j to speak, they are far from trite. They ! are revivified and their beauties and j great superiority over the big ruck of : musical comedy ditties stand out in a : noteworthy contrast. The cast, headed by Harriet Bennet and Reginald Bandy, knows its “Rose Marie,” and there are no beauties in the book and lyrics which it fails to bring out. Harriet Bennet (Rose Marie) is a charming bird-like personality, who treats the French Canadian character very well, and sings her songs with a wealth of expressiveness. Reginald Dandy makes a good figure of a hero, and no doubt charms more hearts than “Rose Marie’s.” Hardboiled Herman has some of the cutest of hits in his comic part, and Sergeant Malone plays well the traditional North-West Mounted Police part.